Ball-bearing center for machines



July 1, 1930. F. H. BECKER 1,768,734

BALL BEARING CENTER FOR MACHINES Filed Aug. 18, 1923 INVENTOR.

ATORNEY Patented July l, 1930 A UNITED ,STATEST in rtENTJ' FFICE- rnrrz 'HEINE BECKER, or IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY BAL -BEARING oENrEEroR MAcHInEs" I Application filed August 18,1928. serial No. 300,418.

This invention relates to a new and useful device in the nature of amachine tool center especially adapted for use in connection with machine-tools such as lathes, grinders and the like for the purpose of providing a dead or tail stock center.

The object of the invention is to' provide a machine tool center embodying a ready and rapid means of changing the center proper when same has become worn for the purpose of having available at'all times a true center view of my improved machine tool center.

Fig. 2 is a frontelevational 'viewthereof.

Fig.3 is a rear elevationalview thereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan :viewthereof.

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view to that illustrated in Fig.1 showing another embodiment of my improved device.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view thereof.

As here embodied my improved machine 3o tool center comprises a tapered body element 10 adapted to frictionally engage in the usual wellknown manner in a suitable aperture or opening formed in the tail stock spindle of a machine tool not shown in the accompanying drawing. My improved machine tool center is porovided with a somewhat enlarged head 11 luntly pointed as at 12. I I V A longitudinal central opening 13 is formed in the machine toolcenter, which is of somewhat reduced size in diameter as at 14 in proximity of the above mentioned blunt point 14.

The above described construction is such as will permit a plurality of balls 15, preferably commercial ground ball bearings or the like to be placed or positioned int-he opening 13. The opening 13 is of suitable size in diameter to freely receive the said balls 15 and the reduced portion 14 of the said opening 13 is of suitable size to frictionally enably applying the said plug 'end'balls against: the work is depended upon *positely positioned thereon, adapted to regage the balls 15, as clearly shownin Fig. 1,' so as to permit the said ball to project or extend somewhat beyond the .blunt'pointed portion of the machinetool center.

l A rod 16 is adapted to freely engage in the opening 13 and is positioned or placed directlyfat the rear of the balls 15.. Thus'rod 1 6 is provided'with a concave extremity 17 adaptedto partially engage one oftheballs -15. Athreaded member 18, 'or plug 'threadedly engages in the threaded portion 19 of the opening 13, directly at the rear of the rod 13. Thisplug 18 'is provided with a tip 20 (if-somewhat reduced cross section which engages the extremity of the rod116. The plug 18 is also provided with an extended element '21 preferably of square crosssection adapted to receive a wrenchas ameans of adjustin the'threaded. portion of'the opening 13. a

above described construction is such as will permit the plug 18 to be adjusted as above set forth so as to permit one of the balls 15 to extend somewhat beyond the blunt -portionjof the machine tool center so as to lallfowthe said ball to partially'engage in a center 22 formed in the work 23' or pieceto be machined or ground. Engagement of the to hold all of the balls in place.

The above described construction is also suchas will permit the saidball engagediin the center of the work when wornand incapacitated tobe ejected from my improved machine tool center bya further screwing in of the plug18. The said plug and rod is then removed so as to permit the said worn ball to,- be replaced or repositioned in the opening 13. I-t being obvious that the worn ball will bew'orn at; only one placewhich permits'of the reuse of.the said ball; I

The enlarged headll has formed therein v at the base thereof a plurality of flats 24, op-

ceive-a wrenchor vise for the purpose-of holding my improved machine tool center when the ball is advanced outwardly. The enlarged head is also cut away at one side there- I of as at 25, so'as to provide suitable clearmice for the tool not shown in'the accompanying drawin g, when machining or grindlng the Work 23 In Figs. and 6 of the accompanying drawing I have shown a cap 26 substantially of hollow frustoconical shape adapted to engage over the blunt pointed portion 12 0 the machine tool center, and secured thereto as at 27 by threaded members preferably set screws or the like. The cap 26 has formed therein a central aperture 28, somewhat tapered inwardly adapted to engage .or grip the ball 29 and other free balls already ejected so as to securely hold the saidballs on the concave seat 30 formed in the center of the blunt pointed portion 12, permitting the said balls to extend somewhat beyond the cap 26 for the purpose as above set forth.

ing center and each of the balls being in intimate contact with the adjacent balls, and a member within the longitudinal opening and capable of being manually adjusted to various fixed positions and in intimate conf tact with the rear ball for discharging the balls one at a time to provide new ball centers when desired. a

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature. -FRITZHEINE BECKER.

A rod 3i slidably engages in an axial longitudinal opening formed in the machine tool center and is provided with a tip 33 'slidably engaging in front part 32 of the opening 32 in proximity to the balls. A threaded mem- 'ber 34, or plug threadedly engages in the threaded portion 35 of the opening 32, and is provided with a tip 36 adapted to engage the I I I ,rod This plug 34 is provided with an ex- 1 tended element '37 having formed therein a i slot 38 adapted to receive a screw driver or thelikeas a means of adjusting the rod 31 so as topermit the tip 33 of the rod to support the balls in lieu ofthe seat 30. A rod 31 is shown positioned for the last ball 29 of the i original series illustrated in Fig l, and the plug 34 is engaged in the innermost and final portion of the threaded portion 35. g r 1 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a machine tool center of the class described, a] body element formed with alongitudinal central opening, a rod adjustably mounted in the rear portion of the opening, and balls arranged in a linein the said opening, the front ball projecting from the opening to provide a ballbearing center, the rear ball engaging against the front end of the rod, and each ball touching the balls adjacent it, and the rod being adjustable for discharging the'balls one at a time for providing new ball centers when desired. p

2. In a machine tool center of the class described, a bodyelement formed with a longitudinal central opening, balls arranged inna dine in said opening, the front ball projecting from the opening to provide a ball bearing center and each of the balls being in intimate contact with the adjacent balls, and means for unitarily forcing all of the balls frontwards for discharging the balls one at a time to provide new ball centers when desired,

3. In a machine tool center of the class dev scribed, 21 body element formed with a longitudinal central opening, balls arranged in a. lineinsaid opening, the front ball projecting from the opening to provide a ball bear- I 

